Mango growers are complaining about a 40% decline in production of this very popular fruit in Pakistan in some parts of the country due to high temperatures and lack of water.
Everyone looks forward to the mango season in Pakistan, where the fruit, available in over ten varieties, is a staple during the hot and humid summer months. But this year the heat wave came very early as temperatures soared since March and the Pakistan Meteorological Office announced that the month was the hottest on record since 1961. The ensuing heat damaged agricultural crops, and the country suffered from a lack of water, which affected the irrigation of crops.
“Usually I pick up 24 truckloads of mangoes… This year I only have 12,” Fazli Elahi said as he prepared bags at his farm. “We’re done.” Pakistan is one of the largest exporters of mangoes in the world, with harvests reaching two million tons per year in the states of Punjab and Sindh. Total production this year is not yet known, but Guram Baloch, a senior official at the Sindh Ministry of Agriculture, expects a 20-40% decline in most areas.
Omar Bogyu, who owns many mango fields in Mirpur Khas, known locally as “mango city,” says he has used less than half the water he normally uses this year. He explained that “mango growers have faced two challenges this year, one is premature temperature rise and the other is water shortage.” Pakistan is one of the top ten countries in the world suffering from water scarcity, and the situation is exacerbated by dilapidated infrastructure and inefficient resource management.
Damage to mango trees
Pakistan also ranks eighth among the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather events as a result of climate change, according to a study by the non-governmental organization German Watch. Thousands of people have died in recent years in Pakistan as a result of floods, droughts and cyclones, which have also damaged infrastructure and deprived livelihoods.
Temperatures in mango-growing areas usually do not rise until early May, leaving the fruit time to ripen before harvesting in June and July. But the onset of summer since March has damaged mango blossoms, which play a key role in the tree’s reproductive cycle. Elahi explained that “the mango should weigh over 750 grams, but this year we have collected small grains.” In South Asia, mangoes are called the “queen of fruits” and are native to the Indian subcontinent. The most popular variety in Pakistan is called “sendri”, it is yellow in color and is known for its sugary pulp.
